'Moderate' Fatah to vote on radical new platform

The Fatah party of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will meet later this week to vote on a new platform that according to Arab reports is nearly as hostile toward Israel as that of Hamas.

Details of the proposed platform changes were leaked to the Arab press on Saturday. They include a formalized refusal to ever recognize Israel as a "Jewish" state, a call for Fatah members and supporters to engage in violence against Israeli authorities, and a consideration of strategic dialogue with Iran.

Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz on Sunday called the new platform a gross violation of the Palestinian Authority's peace obligations and a "declaration of war against Israel."

Senior Fatah officials have been increasingly bold of late in admitting that they had never truly given up the conflict or negotiated with Israel in good faith. Despite their candor and what it means for the prospects of true peace in the region, the Palestinian officials' remarks have been all but ignored by international media and world leaders.

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